Police KILL raver at CzechTek
moopie | 02.08.2005 15:55 | Culture | Free Spaces | Repression
One man confirmed dead as riot police hurl tear gas into tents and vehicles on Friday night (29th July) in their 2200 hrs raid of the legal CzechTek site.
"Czechtek is open-air international and multicultural music festival with 12 year tradition. Not only different genres of music, but also videoart and other art performances take place on this unique event of free culture.
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In all history of festival there were no significant damages or problems, participants while leaving clean the land and take responsibility for
their action.
The contract with the owner of grass plain was clearly shown to police. There is no indicaion that festival was in any way illegal, every aspect was according to law of Czech Republic.
Although police stated throughout friday 29th several different reasons for blockage of access to the place of festival, all were later shown as lies or desinformation. The final reason for brute attack was "threat of damaging the surrounding private pieces of land".
The presence of attending young people on surrounding land was caused by police blockage of all roads and the police action was not taken against this people, but against the people on legally borrowed property.
A woman from near willage, owner of adjoining land, said she had been woken up by police friday morning, long before people began to arrive, taken to police station and by false arguments encouraged to sign complaint.
Most of the people did not hear any appeal to leave the place, many of them had drunk alcohol-containing beverages and could not go away with cars, many of them believed that by taking part on legally organized festival they cannot be targeted by police.
The first police action on saturday 30, 16:30PM took several hours and was badly coordinated. On the place was 1000 policemen, water cannon, armoured tank and low-flying helicopter.
The second night attack at 22PM was led with extreme brutality.
Police in heavy suits without identifying numbers refused to give
identifying information, information about their command and information about first aid location.
Police used massive amounts of tear gas and desorientation grenades, in many cases they threw tear gas granade into a car and did not let people inside for long time get out, in other cases they broke car windows by iron bars, threw grenade in and forced people to get out. All people were beaten up, including teenage girls, which cried in pain. Witnesses described attack on lone staing girl, who was pulled down by her hair and kicked on the ground by four policemen.
There were hundreds of injuries, including cuts, bruises, burnings, broken arms, shock. Many people were in shock still the next day afternoon with
red faces from tear gas.
Police intentionally damaged cars, electronic equipment and other
property. Attack was led with clear intention to cause injuries.
People were forced to go to near highway, which was closed several hours and then the waiting trucks were allowed to go dangerously among the desoriented people.
Police confirmed death of young man attending the festival. Reportedly he was killed by a truck which left. The reason of this death can be manipulated by police, no witnesses were found to [verify] the police statement.
Police brutality continued on scattered people till the sunday morning.
Czech state television Czech TV did not inform about the night attack, it's news were not balanced, mainly repeating police statements. Czech TV in its news also under estimated political value of call of freedom and resignation of minister of interior on sunday's demonstration in Prague, reporting briefly about techno-goers.
This is a call to foreing media to publish information about unlawful
police brutality and state of democracy and human rights in Czech
Republic."
THE ABOVE REPORT WAS TAKEN FROM THIS LINK:
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indymedia link:
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Below are links to websites with endless photos clearly showing the extreme police brutality.
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Below is a film taken at one of the road blocks where police beat a traveller to the ground for no apparent reason and then threaten the rest of the crew with guns:
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League of Human Rights condemns illegal police intervention against CzechTek
31.07.2005 | and calls for the immediate resignation of Interior Minister Bublan
On the basis of information from news reports and participants in the event at Mlýnec pod Přimdou in Western Bohemia, the League of Human Rights must express its condemnation of the brutal police intervention there.
The police have encroached upon rights guaranteed to all by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms (1) in a manner which is completely unacceptable for a democratic state:
1. Without any legal justification, the police restricted the freedom of movement of persons who were peacefully in transit on the public roads.
2. The police as an agent of public authority illegally and brutally infringed upon the private contract between the lessor of the property and the organizers of the dance party. By so doing, the police made it impossible for the purpose of the lease to be achieved and thereby caused damages to both contractual parties.
3. By erecting an illegal barrier to the lawfully leased property, the police artificially escalated the situation. This resulted in conflict which could otherwise have been avoided.
4. The police used completely inappropriate methods, given the situation, and during the intervention injured several dozen people.
In contrast to the organizers of the event, who leased the property in good faith as a result of last year’s problems, thereby demonstrating their desire to meet the legal requirements, the police decided to place themselves above the law for reasons which are neither understandable nor acceptable. Under the rule of law the police may not presume that participants of a private event are going to behave illegally.
The League of Human Rights calls upon Interior Minister František Bublan to recognize his responsibility for the completely inappropriate and illegal intervention committed by the police and to immediately resign.
The League further demands that all police officers responsible for this illegal intervention be held accountable and their victims compensated. The League recommends all victims of police brutality to contact other witnesses as soon as possible, to have any injuries examined by a doctor and a medical report issued. Victims of this illegal police intervention who want to file criminal charges against the police may contact the League lawyers on +420 608 719 535 or by e-mail at
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For further information, please contact:
Mgr. Jiří Kopal, lawyer, League of Human Rights
Mobile phone: +420 608 719 535
League of Human Rights - Liga lidských práv
Bratislavská 31
602 00 Brno
Tel.: +420 545 210 446
E-mail:
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moopie
Comments
Hide the following 9 comments
appeal!!!!!
02.08.2005 16:49
if you or anyone you know was injured by the czech police, please contact the human rights at the above address -
they are filing a case against the police and are determined to bring them to justice
24 travellers eventually won their case against the police after the battle of the beanfield.
it is vital that we keep the pressure on in these violent times
fight the good fight
justus will prevail :)
justice
dead raver killed by riot van
02.08.2005 16:57
police put cs gas into a car and wouldnt let the occupants out!
i have heard that another raver was killed too, tho im not sure why/how.
this behaviour can not be allowed to go on
shocked
fuck that shit!!!
02.08.2005 22:35
what the hell was the polices' point?
pure fascism or what???
vV angry, as angry as about the brasilian, the bombing, the BLOODY STUPID war
fuck all that violent, not dancing and being decent shit!
sorry to swear so much, can understand if you hide this but WHAT?
big love to the czech teknoheads!!!!!
what the hell
fuck the czech police and pm - time to fight back!
03.08.2005 02:07
Its fuckin sick. And this sort of stuff in the Czech repulic is no surprise either: we've seen this sort of brutality from the police there before during the protests against the IMF and World Bank when they threw people out of windows on 2nd and 3rd floors. These cops are mostly members of fascist organisations and clearly love to bash the heads of non-conformists and anarchists; they deserved a harder beating than they received in S26.
This crackdown against parties is going on all over Europe. Its an attack on autonomously organised events. Its a prelude to the state having control over every event, turning techno and alternative dance music events into corporate bullshit as seen in virtually all of the festivals here in the UK. In other countries of Europe it's even worse. It seems it's more important to stop the dance scene from celebrating than it is to do anything else - hence police roadblocks, arrests, beatings, killings.
Hence the targetting of people who choose the be apart from the mainstream. The mainstream is profit. The periphery is rebellion.
It's time to stop this, and stand up for our movements...to stand up for our dance scenes. Stop persecuting people who don't want to pay extortionate rates to capitalists and dance surrounded by CCTV! Stop the EU-wide crackdown on our party scene!
Isn't it time for a rave in their bloody embassies?
Embassy of the Czech Republic in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 26 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QY.
***Fuck politicians and their hate filled crimes! For humanity, autonomy, freedom AAA. ***
Angry raver
czech interior minister resigns over this!! Government split!!
03.08.2005 13:01
XXXX love and rage, Lula
lula
STOP THE POLICE BRUTALITY
03.08.2005 13:34
"Thank you for your interest. It is very nice to hear that people outside the Czech Republic are concerned about the police brutality at CzechTek. "
If you were assaulted, send them your details (with proof) as they are building a case against the police to bring them to justice - address as above
THERE ARE LAWS IN PLACE TO STOP THIS BRUTALITY FROM HAPPENING AGAIN -
LET THEM KNOW WE KNOW THE LAW !!
Anyone who is concerned about the police violence at CzechTek should write a letter of complaint to the prime minister. Fillup their mail boxes !!!!!
send the letter to the government common e-mail:
Dear Prime Minister
I am writing in protest about the brutal police assault at the event at Mlýnec pod Primdou in Western Bohemia on 31.07.2005. The police brutality was shocking and illegal and as fellow members of the EU, please be aware that we, along with the rest of the world, were watching.
In agreement with the League of Human Rights, I condemn the illegal police intervention against CzechTek and call for the immediate resignation of Interior Minister Bublan.
The police have encroached upon rights guaranteed to all by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms (1) in a manner which is completely unacceptable for a democratic state:
1. Without any legal justification, the police restricted the freedom of movement of persons who were peacefully in transit on the public roads.
2. The police as an agent of public authority illegally and brutally infringed upon the private contract between the lessor of the property and the organizers of the dance party. By so doing, the police made it impossible for the purpose of the lease to be achieved and thereby caused damages to both contractual parties.
3. By erecting an illegal barrier to the lawfully leased property, the police artificially escalated the situation. This resulted in conflict which could otherwise have been avoided.
4. The police used completely inappropriate methods, given the situation, and during the intervention injured several dozen people.
In contrast to the organizers of the event, who leased the property in good faith as a result of last year’s problems, thereby demonstrating their desire to meet the legal requirements, the police placed themselves above the law for reasons which are neither understandable nor acceptable. Under the rule of law the police may not presume that participants of a private event are going to behave illegally.
Along with the League of Human Rights, we call upon Interior Minister František Bublan to recognize his responsibility for the completely inappropriate and illegal intervention committed by the police and to immediately resign.
Yours Sincerely
Also
Please send your letters to
Enough letters will increase the chances of an article being printed.
The truth should be told.
DONT GIVE UP THE FIGHT
what is most interesting about any TAZ is the exact beginning and perceived end.
03.08.2005 17:31
[Our analyst said... More than one in three Britons has been an active member of a youth subculture at some point in their lives. It is easy to surmise why these subcultures are so popular. They provide us with a sense of identity, a chance to assert our individuality while simultaneously providing a sense of belonging. They enable us to bond with like-minded and identically attired contemporaries and give us a social short-cut, a way to assess and be assessed instantaneously.
Perhaps most importantly, they help us to make friends....]
Many of our friends were in the Czech republic last weekend.
Solid@rity. protest in finland
more protests ought come, the Czech authorities, this government and the previous
have allowed other youth subcultures space and ability to organise, not all legally
in their country, with many problems resulting, those which we too often address in other more "european" states. And they don't have an indymedia.
There are 2 very succesful youth cultures in Europe at the moment, and neither support large entertainment corporate industries, and neither for the moment are even approaching the floating voter importance.
One leads to the extreme right and hatred of migrants and minorities.
The other leads through perceived criminalisation to hatred of the police
and curiously being quite understanding to migrants and minorities.
Isn't it odd?
I thank my lucky little angels i didn't go to bohemia last weekend,
and can think clearly now and put it all t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r.
.:. santa telematika
The Minister has Not Resigned
03.08.2005 20:38
Czech minister wants investigation of crackdown on music festival
The Associated Press
The Czech Republic's interior minister Wednesday called for an independent investigation of a crackdown on a techno music festival over the weekend but insisted police acted correctly.
Some 1,000 riot police used water cannons and tear gas Saturday to disperse about 5,000 people attending the annual the CzechTek electronic dance music festival, prompting widespread criticism from Czech government leaders and citizens alike."We will find an independent lawyer's office which would work out a legal analysis for us," Interior Minister Frantisek Bublan told a news conference Wednesday.
"I, however, insist that police acted according to law, and we have enough evidence to prove that," Bublan said.
Thousands of protesters gathered near Bublan's ministry in Prague later on Wednesday, calling the police action brutal and unjustified and urging him to resign.
Watching footage from the police action on a giant screen, the crowd chanted "Gestapo!" and waived banners saying "Stop the violence," or "Czech Republic - a country where it's forbidden to sing and dance."
The Mayor of Prague Pavel Bem also criticized the crackdown in a statement Wednesday, calling it an "aggressive, stupid and inadequate action of Czech police."
He said festival-goers headed to Prague after the party was broken up -- a predictable result. Prague "is not a meadow, and the damage here could be much higher," he said.
Protests were also held outside Bublan's office on Sunday and Monday.
Organizers of the weekend festival had obtained permission to hold the event in a private meadow in Mlynec, a village about 130 kilometers (80 miles) west of Prague. But police said festival-goers were illegally entering private land outside the approved zone.
Dozens of festival-goers were injured slightly in the police action.
According to deputy police chief Vladislav Husak, 89 officers suffered injuries, and two had to be hospitalized.
Husak also said 439 foreigners traveling to the festival were denied entry into the country due to poor condition of their vehicles, invalid travel documents or missing vaccination certificates for dogs traveling with them.
Opposition and government politicians, as well as former President Vaclav Havel, criticized the heavy-handed tactics. President Vaclav Klaus said those who had ordered the action had damaged the reputation of Czech police.
The upper house of parliament was to discuss the crackdown Thursday.
Someone who knows how to use a search engine
similarities with the Beanfield in Wiltshire, years ago
05.08.2005 21:06
post at:
appeal!!!!!
02.08.2005 17:49
i have spoken to the lawyers at the human rights office in czech and they are bulding a case against the police about the brutality at this event.
if you or anyone you know was injured by the czech police, please contact the human rights at the above address -
they are filing a case against the police and are determined to bring them to justice
24 travellers eventually won their case against the police after the battle of the beanfield.
it is vital that we keep the pressure on in these violent times
fight the good fight
justus will prevail :)
justice
>>>>>>>>>>>>.
I'm one of those that was present at the Beanfield and your right 24 of use took legal actions against the police:
"For three days (and nights), without adequate food, sleep and many to a cell, we filled police stations across the south of England. From Bristol, where I was taken, to Southampton and London. We were then charged with the serious offence of `Unlawful Assembly'. Most charges were eventually dropped after all of this.
Some had lost everything they had. Parents where frantic in locating children that had been taken into care. Vehicles had been taken to a `pound' some 25 miles away and people had to go through further humiliation in reclaiming what was left of their homes.
Twenty-four of us took out a civil action against the Chief Constable of Wiltshire for the wrongs that were done to us that day. "
my story of all that is over my site
but self-contained at:
My 'Cell Notes' after Beanfield
Anniversary of the 'Battle of the Beanfield': 'Operation Solstice'
'Operation Solstice' :: The definative work on this issue.
I'm shaken to hear of all this.
I wish all well.
Please don't let the bastards grind you down.
Tash [alan lodge]
e-mail:
tash@indymedia.org
Homepage:
http://tash.gn.apc.org